Reenforced strip for terrazzo floors



May 23, 1933. P. GALASSI REENFORCED STRIP FOR TERRAZZO FLOORS Filed Sept. 9, 1931 INVENTOR sQ1/0/e zz/assz' Y fills ATTORNEY Patented May 23, 1933 FATE ?ASQUALE GALASSI,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

REENFORCED STRIP FOX;- TERRAZZO FLOORS Application filed September This invention relates to improvements in the 'COIlStILlCtlOIl of terrazzo and simllar floors and also floors comprising terrazzo or.

cemcntitious panels in combination with other panels or sections made of different materials.

More particularly the invention refers to a new type of dividing strip adapted for use in connection with such floors.

Terrazzo, granolithic, stucco and similar floors usually comprise a lower or foundation bed made of concrete or cement or mortar or other suitable material, and-an upper or finishing layer generally consisting of a mixture of marble chips and cement, by means of which a good durable surface may be obtained as well as pleasing designs and color efiects of a practically unlimited variety.

The upper layer which is generally placed in position after the foundation layer has been allowed to harden to a sufficient degree of consistency, is generally divided into a number of panels or units in a predetermined arrangement, which are obtained by outlining the desired design by means of dividing strips placed on or through the foundation layer.

These strips generally consist of fiat metal bars set on edge, having their upper edges flush with the surface of the floor; and said bars are generally provided with ancho 'ing and positioning means insuring a firm binding action between the strips and the materials of which the floor is composed.

These bars are generally made of relatively soft metal such as brass for instance, the wearing qualities of which are approximately equal to those of the floor itself; and ac cording to the nature of the floor-and of the design tobe produced, the dividing strips may be of various thicknesses and lengths.

Relativel Y thin stri 3s ma T readil be obtained out of sheet metal, and are suitable for floors of moderate size; however, relatively large floors, or floors composed of'relativ iarge units, call for strips having sufficient rigidity" to withstand the lateral pressure of the material without bulging when the floor is laid. At times extra thick metal- 9, 1931. Serial No. 561,945.

lic strips are used for purposes of ornamentation, and in such cases the strips are preferably composed of a thicker head or upper portion and a thinner ribv or lower portion.

In certain types of floors it is desirable to produce combination effects entailing the use ofmaterials other than terrazzo compositions in some of the panels or units composing the general design. For instance, in some cases it is desirable to provide a terrazzo border and a linoleum center; in some other cases, it may be desirable to provide a checkered design including terrazzo panels and marble slabs interposed therebetween; in other cases again, a combination of terrazzo and wood or tile panels may be used.

In these types of floors the thickness of the materials employed in other than terrazzo panels or units is generallydifierent from the height of'the upper layer-in said terrazzo panels or units. In order to enhance their appearance, it is desirable to use dividing strips also in such types of floors; their use is also desirable in order to localize cracks in the terrazzo panels or units. It is, therefore, desirable in such cases to provide strips having anchoring and positioning means at each side thereof, the anchoring and positioning means at one side being adapted for use in connection with the terrazzo panels or units, and the anchoring and positioning means at the other side being especially designed for use with the ma terials employed for the other units.

When linoleum panels are used in combination with terrazzo or cementitious panels, the edges of the linoleum panels should preferably be supported along their entire length. The dividing strips used, therefore, should preferably be formed with a continuous flange laterally spaced from. the body thereof, said flange being vertically spaced from the upper edge of the strip a distance corresponding to the thickness of the linoleum panels.

As I have pointed out in a co-pending application, entitled Flanged strips. for terrazzo floors, Serial No. 486,165, a continuous longitudinal flange is a very desirable feature also in connection with dividing strips intended for use with ordinary terrazzo floors.

In another co-pendin g application entitled Interchangeable floor strips, Serial No. 433,317, I have described another type of strip formed out of two sections one of said sections having its inner edge formed with a laterally extending flange, the inner edge portion of the other section having parts abutting against the surface of the other section opposite that from which said laterally extending flange extends, said other section having laterally extending lugs embracing and retaining said laterally extending flange.

In connection with the strip forming the subject of the last mentioned application, I have found that it is usually necessary for the flanged section to be the upper section of the strip, because the. laterally extending lugs embracing and retaining the flange extending laterally of said upper section are off-set from the body of the lower section where it is not necessary to maintain the continuity of the metal section throughout the length of the strip.

lVhile the provision of a flange extending laterally of the strip throughout its entire length is a very desirable feature, because the flange serves the manifold purpose of increasing the rigidity of the strip, providing a gauge for determining the depth at which the strip is to be inserted in the lower layer, providing a leveling means insuring'the vertical alignment of the strip, and providing an efficient means for anchoring the strip in position, I have found in practice that when the flange is made integral with the upper section of the strip, the cost of production is (lit materially increased, because as. stated, the upper section is generally made of brass or some other expensive metal.

In my said co-pending application, Serial No. 486,165, I have accordingly advocated the use of a strip composed of two sections n which the lower section is made integral with a longitudinal continuous laterally extending flange, said lower section being furthermore formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced lip-turned tongues or in adapted to be connected to or to nterlock with the upper section.

By virtue of this construction. all the bent portions of the strip are preferably obtained from the lower section and therefore no excess metal is required for the upper section.

The particular type of connection described in said application, Serial No. 486.165. however, makes it neccssarv for the connecting tongues to be subjected. to four bending operations in order to form them into hook members inserted through corresponding openings in the upper section. This entails the necessity of making rather complicated 5 and expensive dies, and also results in an increased cost of production for the finished article.

By my present invention I have sought to retain all the advantages pertaining to a bimetallic strip formed with a continuous longitudinal flange, at the same time simplifying its construction and reducing to a minimum its cost of production.

The primary object of this invention is accordingly to provide a dividing strip for floors composed partly or totally of terrazzo or like panels, said strip being of relatively simple and sturdy construction, entailing for its production the use of a minimum quantity of metal,the two sections composing said strip being securely joined to each other by operations requiring a relatively small expenditure of labor.

Another object is to provide a bi-metallic floor strip composed of an upper and a lowor section, in which the lower section. if formed with a longitudinal continuous laterally extending flange, the mode of construction of said strip being such as to be usable for both the production of dividing strips for terrazzo floors of the usual type and dividing strips for use in connection with combination floors comprising adjoining panels of different heights.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will more fully appear as the description proceeds and will be set forth and claimed in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated byway of ex ample in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l'is a fragmentary View in perspective of a strip for combination floors embodying my invention in which the upper section is constituted by a flat strip of metal, and the lower section is bent to form a longitudinal laterally extending flange and is formed with lugs struck off and directed laterally of the body thereof. said lugs interlocking with the upper section, said lower section being also provided with positioning means vertically spaced from said flange;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View in perspective of an analogous type of strip, in which the lower section is also formed with laterally extending lugs acting as positioning means for the terrazzo panels and as supports for the upper section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View in perspective of a strip, the construction of which is similar to that of the strips shown in Figs. 1 and 2, minus the additional positioning means, said strip being designed for ordinary terrazzo floors in which the longitudinal flange can be used for positioning and choring purposes;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a strip, the construction of which is similar to that of the strip illustrated in Fig. 1, in which the upper section consists of a Lil relatively thick bar formed with a relatively thin rib portion depending therefrom;

Fig. is a fragmentary view in perspective of a similar strip designed for use in connection with ordinary terrazzo floors;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a similar strip in which the outer ends of the laterally extending lugs are turned upwardly instead of downwardly to abut against the side section of the upper section;

Fig. '4' is a fragmentary vertical cross section of a combination floor, showing a dividing strip of the type shown in Fig. 2 in position; and V Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical cross section of a terrazzo floor showing a dividing strip of the type shown in Fig. 5 in position.

The strip illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises an upper section 10 and a lower section 11, interlocking therewith. The upper section consists of a flat strip having an uninterrupted upper edge 12 and provided with a plurality of slots or openings 12, arranged at spaced intervals in proximity of its inner or lower edge.

The lower section is preferably formed out of an originally flat strip by bending its inner edge portion at right angles to its body por tion l'r, so as to form a laterally extending longitudinal flange 15. The body 14 of said lower section is punched at spaced intervals in proximity of its upper or inner edge to form tongues laterally extending from or in proximity of said upper or inner edge, in corr spondence of slots or openings 13 in the upper section.

The tongues thus formed are inserted laterally through openings 13, as shown at 16, the inner or lower edge portion of the upper section being placed against the surface of body 14 of the lower section at the side opposite flange 15. The tip end of said tongues is then bent downwardly against the outer side of the upper section, as shown at 17, so that as a result the tongues will form L shaped extensions inserted through slots or openings 13, securely joining the two sections of the strips to each other.

The upper surface of flange 15 is vertically spaced from the upper edge 12 of the strip a distance corresponding to the thickness of linoleum or other panels to be used in connection with terrazzo or like panels or seetions.

The upper layer of a terrazzo panel or section being generally thicker than the linoleum or other panels, the lower section of the strip is preferably also formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced positioning members extending laterally of the body thereof at the side opposite the flange, said positioning members determining the depth at which the strip is to be inserted through the lower layer of the terrazzo panel, and also acting as anchoring means when the terrazzo composition has hardened.

In the strip illustrated, the positioning means consist of open top cup shaped memhere, such as shown at 18, off-set laterally of the body of the strip, said cup members being made preferably to serve also as an additional support for the lower edger 19 of the upper section.

It will be observed not only that this construction results in a very rigid strip of a relatively inexpensive character, but also that the type of joint advocated calls for few easily performed operations, requiring the use of relatively simple and inexpensive dies.

In Fig. 2, I show a strip of substantially similar construction, comprising a flat upper section 20 and a lower section 21, formed with a continuous longitudinal flange 22 and with laterally extending lugs 23 inserted through openings 24 of the upper section, having their outer ends bent downwardly against the side surface of said upper section, the only difference being that the positioning means provided in the lower section consist of lugs such as 25 struck off and extending laterally of the body of the strip, forming a fiat supporting surface for said strip, determining its vertical alignment.

Also in this case, the positioning means may be made to support the upper section, enhancing the stability of the structure.

In Fig. 3, I show a similar strip designed for use in connection with ordinary terrazzo floors, in which the continuous longitudinal flange 26 extending laterally of the lower section 27 is vertically spaced from the upper edge 28 of upper section 29 a distance corresponding to the thickness of the upper layer of the floor. I

In this case, the flange itself acts as positioning and anchoring means for the strip and no additional means need be provided.

The stripillustrated in Fig. 4- corresponds in every respect to the strip illustrated in Fig. 1, except that the upper section consists of a relatively thick bar 30, having a relative ly thin rib portion 31 depending therefrom, the openings 32 through which tongues 33 are inserted being provided through the rib portion, the lower surface 34 of the thick portion of said upper portion resting against the up per surface of the laterally extending flange 35.

The lower section 36 is also, in this case, shown provided with longitudinally spaced open top cup members 37 laterally projecting from the body thereof said cup members, however, are in this case shown used purely as anchoring means for the strip, the positioning function being performed by the low er edge 38 of the upper section.

In Fig. 5 I show a strip designed for use in connection with ordinary terrazzo floors in which the longitudinal flange 39 is used as positioning and anchoring means. The upper section also in this case consists of a relatively thick bar 40 formed with a relatively thin rib portion 41 depending therefrom.

In Fig. 6 I show a strip in all respects similar to that shown in Fig. 5, except that whereas in the strip of Fig. 5 the outer ends 42 of the interlocking tongues are bent downwardly against the side of the upper section, in the strip of Fig. 6, said outer ends are turned upwardly, as shown at 43. This merely demonstrates the fact that the outer ends of the tongues may be bent either downwardly 0r upwardly, although in practice I prefer to bend them downwardly, especially when a flat upper section is used, when a more posi tive retaining action is obtained.

The use of a strip of the type shown in Fig. '2 is illustrated in Fig. 7, where 44 is a floor foundation, 45 is the lower layer of a terrazzo panel and 46 is its upper layer, the lug 25 resting upon the lower layer. At the opposite side of the strip 47 designates a cementitious lower layer reaching up to the flange 22 and 48 is a linoleum panel resting upon said flange and having its edge protected by the side of the upper section 20.

In Fig. 8 I illustrate the use of a strip of the type shown in Fig. 5, in which 49 is the floor foundation, 50 is the lower layer of a terrazzo floor and 51 is the upper layer, the depth of insertion of the strip through the lower layer being determined by the flange 39 and the height of the upper layer being determined by the thick portion of upper section 40.

The constructional details of my improved strip may vary from those shown without departing from the inventive idea; the drawing will therefore be understood as being intended for illustrative purposes only and not in a limiting sense. Accordingly, I reserve the right to carry my invention into practice, in all those ways and manners which may enter, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a divider strip for terrazzo or like floors the combination, with an upper section having an uninterrupted upper edge and a plurality of longitudinally spaced perforations in proximity of its lower edge, of a lower section having its upper edge portion formed with an uninterrupted flange extending therefrom at one side thereot, the oppsite side of said upper edge portion overlapping and abutting against the side surface of the lower edge portion of said upper section, and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced tongues horizontally extending through said perforations, the tip portion of said tongues being bent but once at right angles to the body thereof to abut against the outer side of said upper section, so as to permanently join said two sections to each other.

2. In a divider strip for terrazzo or like floors the combination, with an upper section having an uninterrupted upper edge and a plurality of longitudinally spaced perforations in proximity of its lower edge, of a lower section having its upper edge portion formed with an uninterrupted flange extending horizontally therefrom at one side thereof, the opposite side of said upper edge portion overlapping and abutting against the side surface of the lower edge portion of said upper section, and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced tongues struck off the body'of said lower section, horizontally extending on a level with said flange through said perforations, the tip portion of said tongues being bent but once at right angles to the body thereof to abut against the outer side of said upper section, so as to permanently join said two sections to each other.

3. In a divider strip for terrazzo or like floors the combination, with an upper section having an iniinterrupted upper edge and a pluraiity of lon itudinally spaced perforations in prox mity of its lower edge, of a lower section having its upper edge portion formed with an uninterrupted flange extending therefrom at one side thereof, the opposite side of said upper edge portion overlapping and abutting against the side sur- '"ace of the lower edge portion of said upper section, and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced tongues extending horizontally through said perforations, the tip portion of said tongues being bent downwardly to abut against the'outer side of the lower edge portion of said upper section, so as to pernanently oin said two sections to each other.

4. In a divider strip for terrazzo or like floors the combination, with an upper section having an uninterrupted upper edge and a plurality of longitudinally spaced perforations in proximity of its lower edge, of a lower section having its upper edge portion formed with an uninterrupted flange extending horizontally therefrom at one side thereof, the opposite side of said upper edge portion overlapping and abutting against the side surface of the lower edge portion of said upper section, and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced tongues struck off the body of said lower section, horizontally extending on a level with said flange through said perforations, the tip portion of said tongues being bent downwardly to abut against the outer side of the lower edge portion of said upper section, so as to perinanently join said two sections to each other.

5. In a divider strip for terrazzo or like floors the combination, with an upper section having an uninterrupted upper edge and a plurality of longitudinally spaced perforations in proximity of its lower edge, of a lower section having its upper edge portion overlapping and abutting against the lower edge portion of said upper section, and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced tongues extending through said perforations, he tip portion of said tongues being bent at right angles to the body thereof to abut against the outer side of said upper section, said lower section also having a plurality of longitudinally spaced members extending laterally of the body thereof, directly underneath and supporting the lower edge of said upper section.

6. In a divider strip for terrazzo or like floors the combination, with an upper section having an uninterrupted upper edge and a plurality of longitudinally spaced perforations in proximity of its lower edge, of a lower section having its upper edge portion formed with an uninterrupted flange extending therefrom at one side thereof, the op posite side of said upper edge portion overlapping and abutting against the side surface of the lower edge portion of said upper section, and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced tongues horizontally extending through said perforations, said lower section also having a plurality of longitudinally spaced members extending laterally of the body thereof, directly underneath and supporting the lower edge of said upper section, the tip portion of said tongues being bent at right angles to the body thereof to abut against the outer side of said upper section, so as to permanently join said two sections to each other.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature.

PASQUALE GALASSI. 

